Series clearance control



June I 1926. 1,587,014

F. VAN D. LONGACRE SERIES-CLEARANCE CONTROL Filed Oct. 19 1925 7 I IEIVENTOR l vedevwiel 'll-Logfawe Hi5 ATTNE Patented June 1, 1926.

UNITED .STATES PA ENT oFFice.

FREDERICK VAN D'U'ZER LONG-ACRE, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK; ASSIGNOR' tlJO INGEB- SOLL-RAND COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW

JERSEY.

ERSEY, A conronmron on NEW seams CLEARANCE common.

Application filed October 19, 1925. Serial No. 63,307.

are all in series with the main chamber and J provided with auxiliary valves between pairs of chambers, so that step-by-step control may be readily and simply effected.

Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appear and to these ends the .invention is shown in one of its preferred forms in the accompanying drawing, in which the figure is a diagrammatic sectional elevation of a compressor cylinder having the clearance control applied thereto. Referring to the drawing, a cylinder A is provided with the piston B having the piston rod C. The air or fluid to be compressed enters at the inlet D and is discharged at the discharge connection E, which may be connected to a suitable receiver, not shown. Inlet valves F and discharge valves G for the compressor may be of any suitable or usual construction, shown in this instance as plate valves.

The main clearance chamber H is adapted to communicate with the cylinder through the valve opening J having the valve seat K on which the main clearance valve L is adapted to seat. A valve guide 0 is provided for the valve, and a spring P tends to maintain the valve open. The valve may be held closed in any suitablemanner, as by means of the piston Q, operating in the cylinder R and having the piston rod S adapted to bear on the valve L. Pressure fluid may be supplied to and exhausted from the upper end of the cylinder through the.

pipe '1. and the inner end of the cylinder R is open to atmosphere through the pi e U. Auxiliary clearance chambers V an W,

as shown, are connected in series with each other and with the main clearance chamber H, and the number of chambers opened in series is controlled by the auxiliary clearance valves X and Y, shown constructed like the main clearance valve L. Valve chests Z are interposed between adjacent clearance chambers to contain, the auxiliary clearance valves X and Y. Only two aux iliary clearance chambers are shown but as many as desired in series may be provided.

In the operation of the device, by permitting the main clearance valve L to open, the main clearance chamber H is placed in communication with the cylinder A and the cylinder is partially unloaded. The auxiliary clearance valves X and Y may then be opened in succession to further unload the compressor step by step.

I claim 1. In a compressor, the combination of a cylinder, inlet and discharge valves, a

main clearance chamber, a main clearance valve between said chamber and the cylinder, and auxiliary clearance chambers and clearance valves adapted to communicate in series with said main clearance chamber, whereby one or more clearance chambers may be opened in series for step-by-step unloading.

2. In a compressor, the combination of a cylinder, inlet and discharge valves, a main clearance chamber, a single valve opening between said chamber and the cylinder, a main clearance valve controlling said open ing, auxiliary clearance chambers communicating with said main chamber and each other in'series, auxiliary clearance valves between adjacent pairs of chambers, wherebyvone or more clearance chambers ma be opened in series for step by-step unloa ing. In testimony whereof I'have signed this specification.

FREDERICK 1m DUZ ER LONGACRE. 

